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AbleSkills Renewable Energy Courses Path To MCS Entry

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Published: Saturday, 08 October 2011 15:01

The establishment of AbleSkills Renewable Energy Centre is specifically aimed to provide candidates of all levels of background and experience the opportunity to train and qualify at the highest standards on approved and accredited City & Guilds, BPEC, NICEIC renewable energy courses.

These include essential solar PV courses and solar courses, verified up to the level of City & Guilds 2372 Level 3 Certificate in Installing and Testing Photovoltaic (PV) Systems.

Commitment to training a key renewables workforce competent to transform the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels to sustainable energy systems is now vital to meet EU emission reduction targets in the next 20 years. All construction trade personnel also now need to add to their knowledge and key skills to be able to correctly specify and install renewable technology such as photovoltaic systems, ground source heat pumps, underfloor heating, or biomass heating.

At the commencement of the training process, a short certificated renewable energy awareness course is an obligatory introduction for all students to begin their subject knowledge learning.

Approved training qualifications are a mandatory requirement to become eligible to register as a genuine, competent and approved MSC installer of MSC approved solar PV systems. This is irrespective of the fact that still there is a shortfall of renewable technology systems installers, according to SummetSkills, the sector skills council for the building services engineering (BSE) sector.

Concerned that there is “ …a worrying lack of appropriate environmental technology training to meet future demand…”, SummetSkills report that they found, “ … a ‘significant minority’ of training providers surveyed who were unaware of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), despite the recent Green Deal announcements by the government”.

Undoubtedly, this means that a number of ‘renewables’ students are now training on courses which will not enable them to apply to be MCS registered as required under the Green Deal funding scheme for householders set up by the government. From 2012, the Green Deal can make available up to £10,000, in advance, to UK residents towards helping to pay for energy efficiency work to be carried out in their homes.

It is also designed to prevent rogue traders and dangerous, substandard workmanship by untrained, unqualified personnel. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service has been formally appointed to ensure that installers and assessors will adhere to the necessary robust standards at all stages of work being carried out.

MCS installer certification involves assessing the supply, design, installation, set-to-work and commissioning of renewable microgeneration technologies and the process and standards differ for each product and installer certification. All accredited Certification Bodies will have been accredited by UKAS under EN45011.